Amphibians and Reptiles of Montana

Book excerpt: Although reptiles and amphibians are different classes of vertebrates, they have long been studied together in the field of herpetology. This guide provides an account of the herpetology of Montana, first providing descriptions of herpetofauna biology, habitats in Montana, field observation, and conservation and management, then moving onto species accounts of 36 salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes occurring in the western state. Including numerous color photographs, the species accounts provide information on morphology, taxonomy and distribution, habitat and behavior, and reproduction and development. Also provided are a simplified key to aid identification, a glossary, and appendices detailing reproductive features and other information. Annotation : 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).